Fluid pressure-operated piston assembly



Oct. 7, 1952 A. E. wElGELE FLUID PRESSURE-OPERATED PISTON ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Shee 1 Original Filed April 1l, 1945 INVENTOR.

vALBERT E. WEIGELE AT TORNE Y Oct. 7, 1952 A- E, WE|GELE 2,612,871

FLUID PRESSURE-OPERATED PISTON ASSEMBLYA Original Filed April ll, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALBERT E. WEIGELE Zia/f7@ ATTORNEY Oct. 7, 1952 A. E. wr-:IGELE v FLUID PRESSURE-OPERATED PISTON ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April l1, 1945 BY WM Oct. 7, 1952 A. E. WEIGELE FLUID PRESSURE-OPERATED PISTON ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed April l1, 1945 INVENToR. ALBERT E. wE/GELE ATTORNEY Oct. 7, 1952 f A. E. WEIGELE FLUID PRESSURE-OPERATED PI'STON ASSEMBLY Original Fi'led April 11, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 7, 1952 masseur-cromati). Piston. f ASSEMBLY v Albert- E. Weigel'e.. Irvington, N'. J1., assignor;l 'by mesne assignmentsl to NationalPneumaticiGo.,v

Inc;,1Boston,.Mass., a corporationy of. Delaware,

riginal application April, 11,. 1945i., Serial. ANin 1951:; Secam, 222,119

3 Claims'. l.

This invention relatesfto fluid operi-ated mecha nism and particularly` to mechanism embodying a power element of the non-cyclingl type.

An object ofthis invention is to provide'in a power operatingl mechanismincludingf a pair of reciprocable power elements, one in thenature of a fluid-actuated piston and theother in the nature of a plunger, novel meansv for interconnecting said twoelements during a portion only of the complete piston` stroke.

The foregoingV discussion clearly indicatesy the general object of the invention. The more detailed objects involving,V the structural features herein disclosed willibe apparent from the following description of the single embodimentl of-the invention illustrated in the. attached'- drawings and defined in the appended claims.

This invention residessnbstantijally in the combination, construction, arrangement.andv relative location of parts as will be. describedin detail below.

In the accompanying. drawings in, which` the same reference numeralswill befused throughout the various views to-indioate1 the sameparts,

Fig. 1 is a top planviewofone endofairengine embodying the invention.;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of a portion ofthe engine structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinaL. crossfsectional view of the structurefof\l?ig.h1;A

Fig. 4. is a` top plan view. partlyv-.insection-of the portion of the engineV next to the portionof Fig. 1;

Fig. 511s averncagcentrar longitudinal. .crosse seotionalview of the structure, of;Fig-.1,4;

Fig. 6 isa top plan viewvwithsomegparts.: in cross-section of the next portion of the;.engine.;

Fig. 7 is a vertical, central, longitudinal, crosssectional view throughthe structure of Fig; 6;

Fig. S'is a similar cross-sectional viewf. ofi the next and terminal portion of theengine;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view ofztheendl'of the engine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is avertical, central; longitudinal] crosssectional View through the=portlonofitiiev` engine shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan-view of theyportion of the enginershown inA Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a vertical, central, longii'fudinal,` crosssectional View similar to thatvof-Fig.l l'bu'tshow'- ingthe parts in door open position;

Fig. 13,is a vertical, central, longitudinaLprossf sectional view similar to ,that of Fig. ,7' bntincl'ud-` ine moreofgthe nextadiacent ,n.ortiim.;,ami`

Fig. 14 is a vertical, central`crosssectonal view (Clank-44)? of the nalf or terminal? portion of the engine similar to Fig. 8- but-showing: the partsi-'n door openposition.

Anengine ofthe character illustrated-r is particu'larly44 useful as an operating means-'fer vehicle doors having a comp'oifuidll motion as they' move from closedpositiontcopen position, asfexplained more fully` in my PatentNb; 2,55%35'61 granted May 8, 1951; the presentA applioationbeinga division of theapplicationA resulting' s'aidb patent. When applied to; such a' purpose; the apparatus functions to movethej dooriin' any angular= path composed of' two rectilinear motions;V the piston and plunger'loeing4 coupledi duri'rlg one* stage oi" the movement; andI uncouplfed'f during the other stage; f

The details ofthej enginefareLa clearly shown in Figs; 1 to 114 inclusive'.-

A ram 6|!"V isprovidedf withi aj. rodj G+ which extends througha concentric'openingfin thereentrant' tube' 59f`fvormed" integrally` with" and concentrically oftheend lcap, irf4wliiioh"is`threadedly connectedtoj the-'endjof th'ej-cylinder-"portion 5'3. A .compression spring; B2i liesfbetween theram vlill." and' the` end Wall" ofthe: cap" Edf Ram 60 operates., the doorY in' one stagerof, its` motion', through the-` intervening` linlllaillustrated and described.' more inllyinmyp'atent "No: 2,552,356 above` referred to*T The? cylinder-portion" 53? is provided with a relativen/snort? longitudinal slot 53 in thewall at the topj andfindiani'etric relation ,with respect thereto is'a niuchlonger'longitudina1'slotf53v". The'pivotpin 52'.moves the slot 53.l Mounted.v ontthje opposite: side; of" the ramv isapin 63! 'onwhicli istp,ivotallyA mounted a .latch lili'.` j This .latcl'iis biasedbg means of` a spring. 63. having; one .endlengaginglalateral lug 66 integral withthe latchlilsee. Fig... 11)v and theother end engaging; a pinillmountedlon the ramgfisee particularly Figa). 'Ithalatcn hasa rearwardly extending Aextension (seei Fig', 11). for.k engagement .with .the `pin-.64y under. the action of spring .63 yto. limit its. movementto the position clearly shown in Fig. 2.

In this position..of ..the.leven. it .engages or latcheswith a. pin. vn'lounted.` on. .the ram 69. slidably. mounted in th'ecyliif1-derl portioniii".` The ram, 69' is mounted one..Y piston rodll'll. Sup#` ported on the tfop side v.of fthe"v structurall ,member l5@ is. a` stop member .1'I` having an adjustable screw. 'IZmounteditherein' andn positioned teilen'- gage; the. lateral; extension lfoli` the lever. `(i5. near.. tneemr ofgits. stroke, towards., the left-,1. (E'saii AS.,-wi11. 1ie.seen fivmfEia.lthepiston. rod'l'li'as portions of several different diameters.

and at the shoulder formed between a pair of these portions is a collar 83 against which one end of the compression spring 84 seats. The other end of this compression spring seats against a plunger 82 (see Fig. 3) through which the piston rod freely passes. The plunger 82 has a tubular concentric extension 82' lying inside the spring 84 as a guide for it.

Mounted on the underside of the plunger 82 is a stud or pin 14 on which ispivotally mounted another latching member 15 biased by a spring 18 having one end anchored on a pin 11 mounted on the plunger 82 and the other Vend engaging a lateral extension 16 on the latch 15. As is clear from Fig. l, for example, the latch 15 also has a rearwardly extending tail engageablewith the pin 11 to limit its movement in a clockwise direction. A stop 88 is also mounted on the upper side of the plate l5 and provided with an adjustable set screw 8| to engage the lateral extension 16 of the latch 15 at the proper time to effect rotational movement of the latch 15. The pins and studs 63', 64, 68, 14 and 11 move in the slot 53'. Rotatably mounted on the lower end of the stud 14 is a roller 19 which engages in the slot of the arm 42, illustrated more fully in my Patent No. 2,552,356 above referred to, where it is shown attached to one of the sub-assemblies of the door track structure.

The piston rod 10 (Fig. 7) is connected to a piston assembly including the piston 13 by means of a tubular connecting member 10. This piston is slidably mounted in the cylinder portion 53. A threaded cylinder plug member 85 forms part of this piston assembly and is threadedly connected to a tube 86 which in effect forms a. continuation of the piston rod 10. A piston assembly 81 is attached to the other end of the tube 86 and operates in a cylinder portion 56 connected to the cylinder portion 53 by means of a properly constructed and threaded sleeve 54 (see Fig. 7). This sleeve is provided with a threaded port to receive the fluid pressure line 55, as will be described later. This is .a good point to note that piston assembly 81 is of greater diameter than piston assembly 13 and hence the cylinder 56 is larger than the cylinder 53, a usual characteristic for a differential pressure fluid engine. Another characteristic is the fact that the piston assemblies 13 and 81 are rigidly secured together for conjoint movement.

Within the tube 86 (Fig. 6) is a compression spring seated at one end of the plug 85 and engaging it at its other end with a rod-like plunger 88 which is slidably mounted in the piston assembly 81 and projects towards the closure cap 51 (Fig. 8) for the other end of the cylinder portion 56. A pressure fluid supply connection 58 is provided for and attached to the cap 51. When the piston assembly 81 is moved suilciently to the right (see Fig. 14, for example) so that the rod 88 is seated by the spring 88 on the piston assembly 81, the valve member 80 on the end of the rod 88 will move away from the port in the cap 51.

The above description comprises an explanation of the structural featuresof the mechanism comprising this invention and the operation thereof will now be given. It will be assumed that the movable parts of thefengine 53 are all at the extreme right hand position, which is the position of the engine parts as shown in Figs. 3, 5, 7 and 8, for example. It will further be assumed that pressure fluid from a suitable source is supplied between the piston assemblies .13 and 81 through the pipe 55 (see Fig. '1) which, as is usual with dierential engines, is a permanent connection, and that pressure uid is also supplied to the left hand end of the large cylinder portion 56 through the connection 58 from the same source. In view of the fact that the pressure on both sides of the piston 81 is balanced the pressure on the piston 13 will have moved the engine parts to the extreme right hand position and the door is fully closed.

When the vehicle on which the engine is mounted comes to a stop, or at any time when it is desiredto operate the engine, the operator by means of the usual valve, not shown, in the pipe connection 58 Will disconnect that pipe from the pressure fluid source and open the pipe to exhaust.- -Thus the fluid in the cylinder portion 56 between the cap 51 and the piston assembly 81 will be exhausted. Since the pressure remains between the piston assemblies through the pipe connection 55, it will be seen that the piston assembly will begin to move to the left carrying the ram 66 with it since the piston rod 10 extends to the ram 69 and the ram 69 is latched to the ram 60 by means of the latch 65.

Upon the completion of this outward movement, the lateral extension 66 on the latch 65 will engage the said screw 12 (see Fig. 3) so that latch 65 is disengaged from the pin 68 as the movement of the plunger 60 is completed. At about this time the nut and collar on the end of rod 6i engages in the end of the reentrant tube 59 of the cap 54 to -prevent any further movement cf these connected parts under the action of spring 62. At the time latch 65 is disengaging the pin 68 latch 15 is engaging it. Some idea of this possibility will be gathered from Fig. 2 which shows the relationship of the parts just before latch 65 disengages and latch 15 engages. At about this time the ram 69 engages the right hand face ofplunger 82 so that further movement of ram 69 will carry the plunger 82 with it. At this time ram 69 and plunger 82 are latched together by the latch 15 but this is of no significance at theA moment. It will be seen from Fig. 2 that this latching movement is completed as thc plunger 82 begins to move moving latch 15 with it and out of engagement with the set screw 3| so that it can move into this latching relationship.

It will be noted that when the piston assemblies move to the left to the point where the valve 9i) seats on the cap 51 which is towards the end of the stroke of the engine, the remainder of its stroke will be cushioned by the fact that the remainder of the air in the cylinder is exhausted through a restricted port 51', as shown in Figs. 8 and.14, so as to cushion the nal movement of the piston.

The operation of the apparatus in the return direction will be apparent from the foregoing description with the exception of a few details. To reverse the engine, the operator moves his control valve to again supply pressure luid to the left hand end of the engine through the pipe connection 58 and air is supplied to balance the pressures on the larger piston assembly 81 so that piston assembly 85 takes over and moves the parts to the right. The pressure iluid can unseat the valve 98 suiiiciently to accomplish this with the desiredrapidity. During this period plungers 69 and 82 are latched together so that these parts move together until the lug 16 on the latch 15 engages the stop screw 8| (see Fig. 1) whereupon furthermovement will cause latch 15 to disengage from pin 68. At about the same time the ram 69'l`atches up with the ram 60 through the engagement of latch 65 with pin 68 and ram 69 which, of course, is connected to the connected piston assemblies 81 and 'I3 so that ram 60 is moved to the right.

The springs 62 and 8G are simply provided for the purpose of facilitating the movement of the elements by hand in the event that the power supply fails. If the left hand end of the engine is open to exhaust through pipe '58, the elements can be pushed out and then back by hand and in this manual operation the movement of the parts is aided by the forces exerted by springs 62 and 84 which are fully compressed so long as the luid pressure is maintained.

From the above description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject matterl of this invention may be embodied in other physical forms and I do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given herein for purposes of illustration but rather to the scope of the claims as granted.

What I claim is:

1. A motive device as described, comprising a.

cylinder, a piston assembly in said cylinder, a plunger slidably mounted in an extension of said cylinder having provision for connection to a device to be operated, a latch member for conn 6 necting said plunger to said piston assembly, a second plunger for connection to said device, and a second latching device connecting said second plunger to said piston assembly.

2. In the combination of claim 1, means for unlatching said second plunger from said piston assembly at a predetermined point in the stroke thereof.

3. In the combination of claim 1, means for unlatching said second plunger from said piston assembly at a predetermined point in the stroke thereof, said rst unlatchingmeans disconnecting the rst plunger from the piston assembly substantially at the time said second latching means connects the second plunger to said piston assembly.

- ALBERT E. WEIGELE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 25 270,760 Dederick Jan. 16, 1883 1 1,865,105 Houplain June 28, 1932 2,019,617 Maybach Nov. 5, 1935 

